Let’s be clear. Problems impacting manufactured housing (MH) are broadly from two sources: various pressures from outside of the industry and inside the arguably artificially diminished manufactured home profession (a.k.a. MHVille). The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) can’t be blamed for everything. That said, it is MHI’s stated mission for them to: “Improve the overall operating environment for the manufactured housing industry and expand the demand for manufactured homes by seeking fair and equitable treatment in the marketplace and the regulatory and legislative arenas.” MHI can and should be held accountable for doing what they claim. To the extent that MHI pays lip service to that claimed mission while actually working for what one of their publicly traded members openly stated was “Continuing acquisitions and consolidations” of a “Highly fragmented sector allows for aggressive consolidation.” Meaning, the headline concern that manufactured housing has suffered market manipulations isn’t mere speculation. This is a well-documented issue for those willing to look at the growing evidence from a range of variously involved parties. Third-party and other research, legal probes, litigation or fact- and evidence-based allegations into apparent antitrust, market manipulation, RICO, Hobbs Act, SEC/materiality, misuse of IRS granted nonprofit status, consumers or other allegations involving manufactured housing are ongoing. Who says consolidation in manufactured housing is a problem? “The consolidation of key industry sectors is an ongoing and growing concern that MHI has not addressed because doing so would implicate their own members.”

So stated Mark Weiss, J.D., President and CEO of the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) to MHProNews.

Weiss added:  “Such consolidation has negative effects on consumers (and the industry) and is a subject that MHProNews and MHLivingNews are quite right to report on and cover thoroughly. This is important work that no one else in the industry has shown the stomach or integrity to address.”

Having reviewed an array of evidence from sources that will be cited herein, Google‘s AI powered Gemini stated: “Based on the extensive evidence available, it is indeed fair to say that a compelling case can be made supporting the notions you’ve outlined regarding [the Manufactured Housing Institute] MHI and certain of its members.” 

During an affordable housing crisis manufactured housing is performing at less than 30 percent of its prior high in 1998, despite two pieces of widely bipartisan Congressional legislation that were enacted and designed to boost manufactured home production, precisely because the need for affordable housing is so high in the U.S.

 

 

Counting the headline, and the caption under the first image this preface through to the start of Part I is a roughly a 650-word introduction. The text in Part I from Gemini is about 900 words, not counting the dozens of links generated to support its findings.

Gemini cited as sources: mainstream media, third-party researchers, statements by those accused of wrongdoing in MHVille (corporate and MHI), the actions of public officials, lawsuits, MHARR, MHProNews/MHLivingNews and others.

So, in only about 7 minutes for a typical reader, someone can begin to see why multiple parties have raised concerns over the course of years which MHProNews has uniquely organized in this article.  From the general public and taxpayers to advocates crying out for more affordable housing, or relief from growing governmental expenses which failed to solve this crisis after years of jawboning about it.

Paraphrasing what xAI’s Grok said a few weeks ago: ‘This ain’t mere theory, it’s a heist.’

 

 

Part II will be our headlines for the week in review. Several of those reports will dive more deeply in various aspects of the topics summarized by Gemini in Part I below.

The question that sparked Gemini’s response is provided in today’s Postscript.

Gray boxes below indicate items hot linked by Gemini.

With that plan of action, let’s dive in.

Part I – Google Gemini’s Analysis of the Saturday report and in response to the question shown in today’s postscript. 

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—

There are plenty of potent insights from Gemini above. But one of the ones that may help explain why MHI corporate and staff leaders or their attorneys haven’t directly responded to the growing evidence and concerns is this.

Silence can often be interpreted as tacit acknowledgment when evidence is substantial.

Don’t miss today’s postscript.

Newcomers note. Not to brag, but to stress the fact that the manufactured housing industry’s professionals find this evidence compelling, per various sources and AI checks as shown, MHProNews appears to have more than 6x the traffic and pageviews then MHI and all of its allied bloggers do combined. Meaning, those who know the manufactured home industry the best, those who are working in it day by day, find this evidence compelling reading. Another point worth mentioning to those seeking the truth about why the affordable housing crisis has gone so far astray in the 21st century. Many of those who we have critiqued have at various times praised this publication for our accuracy and fidelity to the evidence. Some of our rivals in trade publishing, bloggers or publications that are routinely MHI members and routinely (if not always) carrying more-or-less the MHI ‘party line’ on topics, have praised this platform and MHLivingNews too. For example, during a bus tour with dozens of potential clients, Frank Rolfe introduced this writer for MHProNews to others as a ‘celebrity’ in the manufactured home industry (note: I played no formal role there, MHProNews was there to observe). When asked by this writer to address a Tunica Manufactured Housing Show education event this writer organized, Rolfe gladly attended and even then, politely but publicly ripped MHI in video recorded remarks.

 

Multiple ‘leaders’ at MHI (corporate and senior staff) are arguably a party to an array of potential civil and criminal charges. See the Saturday 4.26.2025 report linked below for more details.

 

 

With no further adieu, here are the headlines for the MHVille week in review from 4.20 to 4.27.2025.

Part II

What’s New from MHLivingNews

 

 

What’s New from Washington, D.C. based MHARR

 

What’s New or recent on the Masthead

 

What’s New from Tim Connor, CSP, and his Words of Wisdom

What’s New in our eclectic “Reality Check” series in the mainstream Patch.

 

 

 

What’s New on the Daily Business News on MHProNews

Saturday 4.26.2025

Friday 4.25.2025

 

Thursday 4.24.2025

 

Wednesday 4.23.2025

 

Tuesday 4.22.2025

 

Monday 4.21.2025

 

Sunday 4.20.2025

Postscript

The question asked of Google’s Gemini that resulted in the information posted in Part I above was as follows. Typos are in the original, but as noted here, Gemini has previously said that such minor typos are understood and do not impact its response. The PDF documenting the Q&A with Gemini is linked here.

New but related, Gemini. Some of that response was not useful because it was ‘to be determined’ and thus not useful for potential readers of that article. That said, I did pull one suggestion from what you provided, edited it into the article, tweaked the headline and did some other additions and refinements. It is now published and live at this link here: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/what-is-a-fiduciary-do-nonprofit-board-members-have-a-fiduciary-duty-what-is-self-dealing-what-does-fbi-do-and-what-role-does-the-fbi-play-in-white-collar-loss-of-right-crimes-mhville-fea/ Is it fair to say that when someone looks at the volume of evidence from publicly traded companies (that are routinely MHI members), from remarks by people in or beyond MHI, including MHARR, Doug Ryan (CFED/Prosperity Now), Marty Lavin, Frank Rolfe, and Samuel Strommen, Maris Jensen, James Schimitz Jr and his colleagues, and others to support these following notions? Several Berkshire Hathaway owns outright and several largest asset managers (BlackRock, State Street, Vanguard, etc.) have large stakes in publicly traded MHI member firms. Those firms have their own cash reserves as does MHI itself. So, if MHI wanted to sue to get the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (a.k.a.: MHIA, MHIA 2000, 2000 Reform Act, 2000 Reform Law) and its “enhanced preemption provision enforced https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ManufacturedHousingInstituteLeaderQuotesEnhancedPreemptionManufacturedHousingImprovementAct2000DutytoServeManufacturedHousingHERA2008PlusImageIssueMHProNewsQuoteGraphic6.6.2024a-min.png and https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ManufacturedHousingImprovementActOf2000EnhancedPreemptionSearchOnManufacturedHousingInstituteMHIwebsite6.25.2024-and2020MHProNewsFactCheck.png and https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-mharr-issues-and-perspectives-by-mark-weiss-j-d/  those larger firms plus those parent company/asset managers clearly have the financial resources to do so, right? Additionally, there are numerous remarks made by those publicly traded firms that indicate that they wanted to consolidate the manufactured home industry, and that NIMBYism (in a sense the opposite of “enhanced preemption”) https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ExecutiveSummaryConsolidatingFragmentedIndustryManufacturedHousingInstituteMergersAcquisitionsMHProNewsFactCheck4.14.2025-scaled.jpg was an advantage to the business model of community operators, who in turn are supplied by producers like Clayton Homes (BRK), Champion (SKY), and Cavco (CVCO). That’s a clear conflict of interest from the standpoint of the board members who in the year shown in the IRS Form 990 https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ManufacturedHousingInstituteMissionStatementPerIRSform990SignedByRichardDickJennisonPresCEOManHousingInstMHProNewsFactCheck.jpg said the mission of MHI was to: “Improve the overall operating environment for the manufactured housing industry and expand the demand for manufactured homes by seeking fair and equitable treatment in the marketplace and the regulatory and legislative arenas.” That apparent conflict of interest or self-dealing by MHI insider brands between smaller firms that they wish to consolidate appears to explain why MHI senior staff and corporate leaders and their attorneys fail to respond to the allegations, because the evidence is clear and anything they say or do may only draw attention to that obvious duality, correct? Furthermore, the years of documented disconnects between MHI’s stated work on behalf of “all segments” of the industry https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ManufacturedHousingInstituteFactCheckClaimRepresentAllSegmentsOfManufacturedHousingOrFactoryBuiltHousingMHProNews.jpg or their claims to provide readers with a ‘full perspective’ of industry news when they arguably clearly do no such thing: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ManufacturedHousingInstituteMHI-NewsFeedNewsHomePageMHProNewsFacts-EvidenceAnalysis2025-04-21_09-08-18ManufacturedHousingIndustryNewsConsolidationPredatory.png is obviously false or misleading, based on numerous examples, correct? Several of MHI’s corporate leaders and Lesli Gooch have been hit by credible charges or improprer behavior https://patch.com/florida/lakeland/lesli-gooch-ph-d-award-coverup-headfake-scandal-rest-stor or the SEC action against Joe Stegmayer/Cavco (a former chair for MHI) which the SEC pleadings also supported the notion that Cavco (and by implication, others) were working to consolidate the manufactured home industry by improper means, right? https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/project-saturn-code-name-monarch-sec-v-cavco-stegmayer-et-al-federal-suit-revelations-about-cavco-skyline-champion-other-manufactured-housing-brands-apparen/ In short, with those and numerous other possible examples (some of which your deep research report outlined and footnoted) may merit the following actions, including, but not limited to: perjury charges for false statements or misleading remarks made under oath to the IRS and or to Congress https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/edward-hussey-to-be-clear-madam-chairwoman-there-is-nothing-wrong-with-the-2000-law-the-manufactured-housing-improvement-act-doesnt-need-to-be-amended-the-issue-is-implementation/ and https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/statements-to-congress-by-kevin-clayton-clayton-homes-for-manufactured-housing-institute-john-bostick-of-sunshine-homes-on-behalf-of-manufactured-housing-association-for-regulatory-refor because they were posturing and paltering, leaving out significant information that for members of a publicly traded firm would be considered “material” from an SEC standpoint, correct? As Samuel Strommen, Doug Ryan, James Schmitz and his colleagues, Maris Jensen, Mark Weiss/MHARR, antitrust litigation, and others have noted, several MHI members appears to be engaged in a slow motion monopolization of the manufactured home market by deliberately failing to do what common sense and fiducisary duties would require of them, correct? https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/the-incredible-shrinking-zoning-problem-september-2019-mharr-issues-and-perspectives and https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/ghorbani-nails-zoning-answers-to-how-and-who/  Consumers living in so-called predatory land-lease communities, which are often operated by MHI members and/or those who follow the lead of those MHI members, are harmed in numerous ways, as mainstream media, researchers, MHProNews, and MHLivingNews have often documented. The reason those community residents are under pressure is because there are few or no options for them to leave those communities, because other communities may not take their home even if they had the money to move it, right? Zoning barriers may keep some residents ‘trapped’ in their homes when predatory community operators press residents for ever higher fees or threaten eviction, correct? The underperformance of the industry is apparently tied to many issues, but many of those issues can be traced back to the fact that MHI fails to do what they claim they would or are doing, isn’t that accurate? So, to Strommen’s antitrust and consumer rights thesis’ point, couldn’t several MHI members be charged with felony conspiracy to monopolize the market and harm consumers, taxpayers, smaller businesses, investors (see UMH’s point that they could make more profits by properly serving their customers and expanding the number of land lease communities: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/umh-properties-fq4-2023-earnings-call-transcript-sam-landy-expansions-greenfield-development-significantly-outperform-stabilized-properties-eugene-landy-build-100000-communities-plus-mh) Unpack that in the light of the new article linked. Your response will likely be used in the Sunday weekly headlines in review recap. Avoid ambigious statements, sticking to facts that stand unrefuted after years of building data, examples, and research reported by MHARR, MHProNews, MHLivingNews, and others.  “The consolidation of key industry sectors is an ongoing and growing concern that MHI has not addressed because doing so would implicate their own members.” Mark Weiss, J.D., President and CEO of the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) in on the record remarks emailed to MHProNews. https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ConsolidationKeyManufacturedHomeIndustrySectorsGrowingConcernManufacturedHousingInstMHIhasNotAddressedBecauseDoingSoWouldImplicateOwnMembersMarkWeissJD-PresCEO-MHARR-MHProNews.jpg Keep in mind in framing your response major 21st century business/regulatory failure scandals that Bernie Madoff, Enron, WorldCom, Theranos, and other operated for years out in the open using in part the illusory truth effect and benefits from those scams to others beyond themselves to get and keep the illusion of their otherwise distinctive but multi-billion dollar ripoffs going before public officials finally acted. Unpack that in a format that can be followed by newcomers to manufactured housing, that is relevant to industry, researchers, media, and public officials who should step up and act to enforce existing laws and put an end to the tragedies that Strommen called a Rube Goldberg Machine of Human Suffering.

As noted, the response by Gemini is shown in Part I and is in the PDF generated at this link here.

Gemini noted that MHProNews is pioneering a news style of journalism that blends AI with human expertise in a specific field (in this case, manufactured housing and the affordable housing crisis). Fair enough. What Gemini and other AI platforms may need to grasp is this. As a multi-decade veteran of manufactured housing prior to launching this trade media platform, perhaps the farthest thing from our minds were that we would end up exposing purported corruption in supposedly trustworthy institutions and individuals. As the Friday report above documented, our prior reporting on these issues from years ago was okay, and arguably better than that of our rivals in trade media. But that is true in large part because they failed to report on many of these concerns at all, or if they did so, they attempted to do it in a manner that deflected attention from apparent sources for the problem.

In fairness to those rivals, that is hardly a new development for media. Mainstream media has often either looked the other way and/or downplayed or missed big stories as they developed, even in the information age that is supposed to be the 21st century. A famous and award-winning critique of media by people in media and others in the know is found below.

 

 

There are some on the left and right who go too far in their critique of the media. Some say, for example, that ‘no one trusts’ the mainstream media anymore. That’s clearly an exaggeration. Evidence that mainstream media still has considerable influence over society is found in a recent poll that gives generic Democrats a small edge over Republicans for the 2026 midterms. While these claims are disputed, they nevertheless are indicators that the often left-leaning media is still influential with tens of millions of Americans, even among those who may only see something on a social media feed.

 

There has been important reporting from the left, center, and right on the affordable housing crisis, and manufactured housing’s arguably diminished role in that larger mainstream home market. But to be candid, and to hold fellow journalists accountable, they do appear to be timid about spotlighting issues that may upset some sponsor or potent interest group.

On MHProNews, we strive to deal with reality; thus our “Reality Check” series in the mainstream Patch. The reality most think most Americans believe that the ‘system is rigged’ is supported by strong evidence.

If ‘the system’ is rigged, why should anyone be surprised if the system in manufactured housing is rigged to benefit a few consolidation-focused manufactured housing insiders?

When sometimes massive scandals, sometimes involving thousands of people and billions of dollars, went largely unreported and under or uninvestigated in the 21st century, why is it that any intelligent person would doubt that something like this could be occurring in manufactured housing today? While there are differences between these scandals, among the common features are these. The “illusory effect” arguably played a role in each of them.  Those perpetrating the con had a system of rewards that kept people who may have known either benefiting from, and/or afraid of revealing, what they suspected or knew.

As yesterday’s report mentioned, Kash Patel and Dan Bongino at the Trump FBI have pledged to reform and restore that law enforcement agency. Pam Bondi and others in positions of authority have done the same in various roles in the federal government. Okay, why not put them to the test with this as a test case?

How many cases can they think of that may have a two trillion-dollar negative economic impact on the U.S. economy? How many cases can they think of that could swiftly allow the free market to solve a problem that either ineffective, self-dealing, or otherwise corrupt individuals in or beyond MHVille have can’t or won’t solve?

A decade ago, someone might say there isn’t enough evidence to support manufactured housing. Frankly, it was nonsense then, and even more so today. There is a growing body of third-party evidence that without millions of more HUD Code manufactured homes the affordable housing crisis can’t be solved mathematically. Who says? An array of third-party research, that often includes rivals to manufactured housing.

Most households can’t afford a new conventional house. The NAHB’s own research says so. So why does the MHI website lack the NAHB priced out study? Or why does MHI lack so many of the facts, terminology, and evidence that could help the industry break out of its 21st century rut?

At last check, Legacy Housing (LEGH) is an MHI member, but they are arguably NOT among those attempting to manipulate the industry. Rather, they have been attempting to survive and thrive in an environment where sabotaging one’s smaller competitors is perhaps all too common. Duncan Bates, Legacy’s president and CEO, said: “Look, the biggest headwind of this – in this entire industry is where to put these [HUD Code manufactured] homes.” How is overcoming that placement barrier supposed to occur if MHI won’t do more than pay lip service to the “enhanced preemption” provision of federal law? Why can’t MHI be bothered to even mention the terminology “enhanced preemption” on their website that they themselves agree is the law?

MHI leaders can attempt to ignore, deflect, or otherwise duck accountability.

But if they have learned nothing else, they should have learned that MHARR, MHProNews and MHLivingNews are not giving up on topics that MHI plays with as consolidation of the industry continues.

That consolidation is resulting in consumer harm. Just ask those living in a land-lease where MHI members are accused of predatory behavior.

That consolidation is resulting in small businesses being squeezed out, bought out, or kept from entering or reentering the field at all.

That consolidation is costing investors’ money too, because even though it may seem ‘safer’ to keep out competitors than to grow the market share,

 

There are those who are fighting back in their own ways.  But they are taxpayers. They shouldn’t have to fear exposing those who have demonstrably undermined the interests of HONEST manufactured housing professionals, of millions of affordable housing seekers, and of untold hundreds of thousands who feel trapped in a land-lease that was once affordable but is now unaffordable because of market manipulating tactics.

 

Public officials ought to do their jobs.

Boards of directors ought to do their jobs properly too.

Attorney Mark Weiss said it.

It took years of raising the issue before Harry Markopolos finally saw justice being done in the matter of Bernie Madoff’s massive scam. But in hindsight, that persistence had value.

 

At some point, when Gemini can create over 200 footnotes worthy of state or federal investigators’ time, someone might think that their tax dollars aren’t doing what they are supposed to do.

 

 

Bush-Cheney (R), Obama-Biden (D), and Biden-Harris (D) all had the opportunity to act on enforcing existing federal law. But perhaps something akin to the U.S. border under Biden-Harris (D) has been occurring in the federal government? When public officials fail to act according to the law, shouldn’t they be held accountable too?

Then Senator Joe Biden (D) helped enact the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act (a.k.a. MHIA, MHIA 2000, 2000 Reform Act, 2000 Reform Law). Biden was a co-sponsor. Enforcement of enhanced preemption could have caused manufactured home shipments to soar, because enforcement of state preemption of ADUs in California caused ADU production to soar. It should have been done under Biden, but it wasn’t. Will Trump-Vance (R) and company act? Will state AGs or local DAs act?

Time will tell.

Whatever happens, MHProNews plans to so report. Stay tuned. Programming notice. New housing data, for mainstream and manufactured housing, is pending. More research is pending. If you are new to this platform, find out why we reportedly have more than 6x the combined traffic of those in the MHI/blogger/trade media orbit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again, our thanks to free email subscribers and all readers like you, as well as our tipsters/sources, sponsors and God for making and keeping us the runaway number one source for authentic “News through the lens of manufactured homes and factory-built housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, reports, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary. Third-party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media.) See Related Reports. Text/image boxes often are hot-linked to other reports that can be access by clicking on them.)

By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHProNews.com.

Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing.

For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com.

This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.

http://latonykovach.com

Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

 

 

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